10 Eco-Friendly Beach Essentials

Oh, Northern California. It’s amazing. I actually went to the beach more when I was in the landlocked state of Arkansas than I do living on the coast. Why, you might ask?

BECAUSE IT’S COLD.

Last weekend we had highs of 55, cloudy, and even rain. But, this week it flipped to the hundreds. Cool. Cool. Cool.

This post was sponsored by SOL Organics all thoughts and opinions are my own. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.

There’s only three things on my MUST list:

• See Friends
• Eat Tacos
• Go to beach

I’m a simple lady. But, it got me thinking…. what does an eco-friendly/zero waste gal pack in her beach bag?

1. The biggest, fluffiest, organic towel:

First thing on my list is the biggest, organic, fluffiest towel. In fact, I’d prioritize bringing two. One to hold down my dry spot of sand and another to towel off.

My biggest, best, fluffiest towels of choice are. I have a set of a SOL Organics Sheets and absolutely love because they’re such high-quality.

So, when they launched their towel line, I was chomping at the bit to place my first order.

Their towels are VERY generously sized, they’re incredibly absorbent, super soft, and even after washing several times they’ve stayed brand new! I can definitely see myself having them for a decade at least.

For my beach day I’d pack:

1. Organic Bath Sheet This is the towel you want for holding down the fort
2. Organic Hand Towel This is the towel I’d keep in my bag for toweling off
3. Organic Bath Towel I’d just slip this cutie in for the hotel because these beat hotel towels any day…. I jest, I jest. But, really - I might just start bringing my own towel when I travel.

SOL Organics is certified Fair Trade, Organic Cotton, and GOTS certified, and they ship completely plastic free.

Their factory partner runs a transparent supply chain from farm to factory to fabric, using only non-GMO, certified raw 100% organic cotton, manufactured in a FLO-certified factory .

They always pay a living wage and are partnered with proven partners that invest in the health and well-being of women and children all while working to eradicate child labor.

And, as a huge bonus they’re offering all GZW readers 20% off with the code 'GZW20' just apply it at checkout.

2. beach bag:

You know me, #ZEROWASTE, #MINIMALIST, #LAZY so my super stylish farmers market tote doubles as the cutest beach bag and I know it’s up for the task because it totes 15lbs of vegetables on the reg.

And, I’ve successfully fit everything on this list including the Organic Bath Sheet , Organic Hand Towel , and Organic Bath Towel . Mary Poppins bag ain’t got nothin’ on me.

3. reef safe sunscreen:

This one’s a biggie - your sunscreen might be damaging the coral reefs.

And, this doesn’t only happen when you’re headed to the beach because ANY drain you wash these chemicals down will eventually make their way out to the ocean. 

So beach day or not you really should look for reef safe sunscreens that don’t have oxybenzone and octinoxate on the ingredient list.

Instead, opt for reef safe sunscreens. I’ve listed a few bellow: reef safe sunscreens. Be sure to wear a hat when you're out, cover up with sleeves. If you want to stay extra safe stay in the shade, and spend time outside during the early and later hours when the sun isn't as intense.   

• Sun Bum Reef Friendly Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 50)

• Thinksport Non-Nano Zinc Oxide Sunscreen (SPF 50+)

• Blue Lizard Sunscreen, Sensitive (SPF 30+)

4. hat:

I need my beach hat! I have a trusty straw hat I have relied on for quite some time, but I would really like to up my repertoire. Here’s a few of my favorites.

5. snacks:

Is it even a beach day without snacks!? You can have an amazing picnic on your gigantic SOl Organics Organic Bath Sheet. Here would be my plastic-free snack roster:

• Cooler full of iced tea complete with stainless pint cups to stay hydrated all day long
• Insulated water bottle Fav 1 & Fav 2
• Stasher bag full of pitted cherries and berries + a bamboo fork
• Stasher bag full of carrot, bell pepper, and celery sticks
• Tiffin full of homemade hummus

Snack packaging like drink cups and plastic wrap tend to get swept up by wind and make their way out to the ocean.

Trash cans around beaches are often overflowing so just avoid bringing and single-use disposable items with you to the beach and instead pack yourself a zero waste picnic!

photo from Stasher

6. cutest ethical swim:

I have a full guide to ethical swimwear similar to my post about summer trends, but for now, I’m packing this cute tankini from Jessica Rey.

I wore it on a bachelorette trip weekend where I tried to accomplish Zero Waste at Disneyland!

7. flip flops:

Pretty much the only time I wear flip flops - I just don’t find them to be very comfortable is on the beach or at the pool. I have this pair from Third Oak. They’re responsibly made in the US and are closed loop so if they break you can send them back to the company for recycling.

8. sunglasses:

Sunny, sunny, sunnies! Pela Case my phone case of choice and has been for years just launched the most eco-friendly sunglasses on the planet. They’re biodegradable and they’re adorable. I have a pair of the Dians and Justin has a pair of the Mayas.

9. bluetooth speaker:

I threw a portable speaker into my bag just incase we have a small section of beach to ourselves. I hate forcing my music on others. I have a bluetooth portable speaker which is pretty large and a little heavy so instead I’d probably opt for a mini!

House of Marley is one of the few brands that’s offering sustainable electronics. They use mindfully sourced materials including bamboo, FSC™ certified wood, recyclable aluminum, plastic and fabrics.

10. beach reads:

And, of COURSE, how could I not include beach reads. You know there’s like four in my bag and honestly this could be a whole post within itself, but if you’re looking for easy-to-read books on sustainability might I recommend my book 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste or Ashlee Piper’s Give a Sh*t

I’m not sure if we have the same taste in books, but I just tore through every Gwendolyn Womack book in about two weeks.

I’d like to thank SOL Organics for sponsoring this post. Whether you’re looking for a beach towel or eco-friendly towels for your bathroom, I can’t recommend SOL Organics enough.

PLUS, don’t forget about that 20% off for GZW readers! Use the code 'GZW20' at checkout!

What are you packing in your beach tote this summer?

Is Zero Waste More Expensive?

Ah, yes, the 3 year age old question. Is zero waste more expensive? I went over this briefly in this post where I busted zero waste myths.

But, I decided it was time for a more in depth look at this very pressing question with a few of my calculations down at the bottom.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links for more information please see my disclosure policy.

the short of it:

Well, like most things it life… it depends. It really depends on how you were consuming products before you decided to reduce your waste.

Have you been living a frugal lifestyle? Do you currently eat minimally processed foods that focus on plant-based ingredients? Do you have control over your shopping habits?

If you answered, yes to any or all of those questions then you might not see a substantial amount of savings, but I think that you’ll find you’ll maintain your spending.

You definitely shouldn’t expect to see a huge uptick in your spending, that’s for sure!

it’s depression era living.

Zero waste living isn’t anything new or fancy. In fact, it’s pretty old school. Like hundreds of generations of normal living up until the 50s. It’s depression era living founded on one simple principle WASTE. NOTHING.

We just create a lot of waste these days because we buy a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff that we don’t really need, use, or even want!

I would say zero waste living and minimalism have a lot in common because it’s about examining what you truly need. It just in the zero waste community, we found taking out the trash to be completely unnecessary. I jest, I jest.

But, really if you’re buying MORE things, you’re probably doing zero waste wrong. My first tip in my Beginner’s Guide to Going Zero Waste is simply Buy Less.

it’s about buying less:

It’s about using what you already have and using it to it’s full potential. Check out my post What to do with old plastic when going zero waste.

I’m not saying you won’t buy things, I still buy things that I want and need but I’m so much more conscious about what I’m buying and why I’m buying it.

Every purchase goes through a strict vetting process. You can read more in my post 6 Tips for Buying Less.

what about buying reusables?

Yeah, some resuables are going to be an upfront investment like a bidet attachment, a nice safety razor, reusable bags that you really love, maybe a nice sturdy insulated water bottle, a slew of mason jars, and maybe a tiffin or two.

I think you’ll find once you have those basics, and I mean really stick with the basics, you don’t need much more.

Also, you can probably find a few of these things at the thrift store. I found all of my mason jars which I also use as drinking glasses at the thrift store. I found two klean kanteens at the thrift store too!

And, all of these items will save you SO MUCH in the long run. So, yes, your spending might peak a little bit at the beginning of your zero waste journey, but I wouldn’t expect it to maintain that way.

what about eco-friendly products?

Eco-friendly, sustainable products are probably going to cost more. I mean a shirt made from plastic, sewn by slave labor is of course going to cost less than a shirt made from sustainable textiles that are traceable where everyone was paid a living wage.

It makes sense that well-made, ethical things are going to cost more because manufacturers aren’t cutting corners.

And, I understand that not everyone can afford to make a sustainable purchase every time, but it’s important to frame our mindsets. The question shouldn’t be “Why is doing good so expensive?” it should be “Why is being bad so cheap?”

So, yes, somethings are going to cost a little more, but even buying more expensive, eco-friendly items like Zero Waste Makeup, I’m still saving in the long run because overall I’m buying much less than I used to.

And, it’s not like I’m going through makeup at a slower pace, it’s just that I’m not running out to buy different colors, try new things, and just buy to buy. I stick to buying only what I know, love, and use.

some real life calculations:

So, this is anecdotal evidence I’ve gathered along the way and is by no means an accurate reflection of everywhere in the country but here in Northern California, this is what I’ve found.

• Farmers Market Organic Artichokes $1 per piece - Same farm, same thing at Raley’s $2 per piece

• Farmers Market Organic Romaine $2 per head - Organic Romaine at Raleys $3.27

• Rainbow Grocery Biokleen 5lb Laundry Detergent in box $15.75 (THAT’S INSANE!) - Rainbow Grocery Biokleen Laundry Detergent from bulk bins $1.85 a lb or $9.25 for 5lbs

• Organic Pinto Beans in a plastic bag $2.38 - Organic Pinto Beans $1.99

• Organic Yellow Popcorn in plastic $3.49 - Organic Yellow Popcorn $1.99

• 20ct of paper towels $19.89 (lasts two months) - A dozen bar rags $15.99 (Lasts for five years)

As you can see the savings really do add up. I’m not saying zero waste is always going to be cheaper but I’ve found that 97% of the time the zero waste option saves money.

I think I should do a post on cost comparisons. Are there any products that you’d like to see specifically included?

How to Have an Eco Friendly BBQ

HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE! It’s basically official right? Summer solstice is right around the corner. Not that it has to be summer time to have a cookout, if you’re reading this for a family cookout in November, more power to you!

But, since I’m publishing this in the summer and I’m going to assume you’re reading it during the summer… we’re just going to continue with a SUMMER theme.

I love summer. It’s my favorite season. I have SO much energy in the summer. I’m like the energizer bunny. When the sun comes out early in the morning I’m itching to start my day - oh and those late summer evenings… there’s nothing better.

Man, I just want to get a snow cone right now. Also, something I’ve noticed is there aren’t any snow cone mobiles in California!

We had snow cone mobiles everywhere in Arkansas and I miss them. I miss you Hawaiian Ice!

I digress, this post isn’t about how much I love summer, warm weather, and snow cones… It’s about throwing the most eco-friendly, zero waste cookout EVER.

And, I’ve got you covered, I’ve thrown many a zero waste BBQ in my day. In fact, since Justin and I got married at city hall we threw a BIG backyard BBQ to celebrate with all of our friends and family and it was an absolute blast.

1. borrow:

If you need more tables, chairs, games, cups, plates etc. Instead of running out to get more, I urge you to ask your guests if they have any you can BORROW.

I promise, they will be more than happy to lend them and this will save you a ton of money! It’s also way more eco-friendly to use materials that already exist in the waste stream than it is to buy brand new.

2. choose reusables:

A key area of waste at BBQs is all of the disposables. People tend to lean into the disposable plates or red solo cups at parties, but I would love for you to switch to reusable items! 

Now, we've talked about my mom and her meticulous party planning, yeah? 

Since it isn't the safest thing to have kids by the pool with a bunch of breakable plates and glasses, growing up we had a set of BBQ plates which were all plastic. 

They were reusable and made of melamine. We also had reusable plastic cups of course if you'd rather avoid even reusable plastic they make a stainless steel pint cups and plates. 

Now, I know what you’re thinking, isn’t that going to be A LOT of dishes?

Yes, but I threw a backyard bash with 60 people in attendance without a dishwasher. Just when my friends asked if they could do something to help, instead of turning them down, I asked if they’d help wash a few dishes. They were more than happy to do that!

I had a clean kitchen and a zero waste party with very little cleanup!

Of course, if you have a dishwasher, start your party with an empty dishwasher and then load up and the end of the night. Press a few buttons and when you wake up, you'll have clean dishes! 

3. decorate like mama earth:

When it comes to decor stick with what your mama gave you… mama Earth, that is! I love to dress up my parties with fresh flowers.

The morning of my big parties, I like to go down to the farmers market to pick some fresh sustainable blooms.

If you’re curious as to what classifies a flower as sustainable, be sure to check out my post How to Choose Sustainable Flowers.

I also like to light candles and put them in lanterns, use old mason jars, and upcycle old tins. I think fabric bunting that you reuse year after year is adorable and festive too!

4. entertainment:

Ah, yes, but how do you keep these guests entertained? I tend to create a spotify playlist to play while the party is in full swing, and I rented a few corn hole boards and horseshoe games for everyone to play in the backyard.

This is another thing that would be great to ask friends about. I bet a few of them have some backyard party games they’d be more than happy to let you borrow.

5. food:

And, then we get to the food. My number one recommendation is to go heavy on the veg!

When people typically think about BBQs they think about meat. But, I've got to tell you - grilled vegetables are the BOMB.

I give you all my favorite grilled veggies in this post Zero Waste BBQ and I go in full detail about how I threw a party for 60 people without creating trash in my Zero Waste Wedding part one… including how I hauled my crockpot to the butcher.

6. attending bbqs:

This is a fun little bonus! When I'm attending BBQs, I actually bring my own stainless tumbler so I don't have to use any disposables. I'm always complimented on it. I sometimes include a small stainless steel plate and a to-go set of cutlery that I wrap in a cloth napkin.

Have you thrown or attended a zero waste BBQ?